Twelve-year-old Kevin is relieved to finally have an explanation for his strange tics and outbursts that constantly get him in trouble at school and alienate him from his friends-but what does it mean to be diagnosed with Tourette syndrome (TS)?
When his attempts to educate his classmates and teachers about his involuntary behaviors fail, the school recommends that his parents send him to a special institution. Refusing to let TS dictate her son's life, his mother decides to send Kevin to TICtasTIC, a summer camp for kids with TS. Kevin, however, is against the idea, thinking his parents are merely trying to get rid of him. But when he finally arrives and meets other kids like him, he's surprised by a sense of hope that perhaps he has a bright future after all.
Written for kids and teens with TS, Camp Peanut Butter is an inspiring and educational novel that is a must-read for parents and teachers, as well. The story of young Kevin will build kids' confidence as they learn not to hide behind their tics, but to bravely be themselves and share their own stories with the people in their lives.
About the Author: Troye Evers is a writer who is passionate about advocating for the Tourette syndrome (TS) community. In 2008, his screenplay Tic won third place in the All Access Screenwriting Competition, and in 2011, Evers wrote his first book, A Day in the Life of Tourette Syndrome, which is a biography of seventeen people from all over the world who live with TS. In 2012, he started blogging about his own experiences with TS, and after 52 Weeks of TS received upwards of 300,000 hits, the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome syndicated the blog on their website.
Beyond simply writing about TS, Evers also volunteers at two summer camps for children with TS: Camp Twitch and Shout in Georgia and Camp Ticapalooza in upstate New York. He currently works as a special education teaching assistant and sits on the board of the Tourette Syndrome Association of New York City (TSA-NYC).
